How to Show Your Promotion on a Resume + Examples

When it comes to writing a resume that gets attention, showing promotions can make a significant difference. 

Why? Employers are always on the lookout for candidates who have proven themselves by advancing within an organization. When you put a promotion on your resume, you show how your skills and experience have developed over time, underscoring your value as an employee.

So how do you go about this? We're here to help!

In this guide, you'll find:

Ready to show your promotions and make an amazing resume? Try our easy-to-use AI Resume Builder, where you can upload your existing resume or start fresh and answer simple prompts to get instant, customizable content suggestions to highlight your career growth in no time.

How to Show a Promotion on a Resume

You may know how to write a resume, but did you know there are several effective strategies for listing promotions? The method you choose depends on the nature of the promotion and how you want to highlight your career growth. 

Below are a few common approaches to help you decide how to show promotion on a resume and how to list it effectively.

Method 1: Separate entries for each role

Use this template

If your promotion involved a significant shift in responsibilities or a new job title, the best approach is to create a separate entry for each position within the same company. 

This method allows you to fully showcase the accomplishments and responsibilities associated with each role and is a great way to show promotion on a resume.

Example:

By using separate entries, you highlight each role individually and make it clear to the employer that you've been promoted within the same organization.

Method 2: Single entry with multiple titles

Use this template

If your promotion occurred within the same department and your duties remained somewhat consistent, you may prefer to use a single entry with multiple job titles. 

This method keeps your resume concise and demonstrates that you've been promoted without overloading your work history section. 

Example:

This approach makes it easy to see that you've advanced in your career within the same company, while keeping your resume streamlined. Since you avoid repeating yourself, it is a good option for roles where promotions build upon your existing skills and responsibilities.

Method 3: Highlight promotions in the work experience description

Use this template

If your promotion didn't involve a formal title change but came with new responsibilities, you can highlight your growth within the work experience description itself. 

This method will allow you to show how your role evolved without needing a new job title in the work history section of your resume.

Example:

By detailing the promotion within the job description, you show your growth without needing a separate job title. 

Which method do employers prefer?

There's no universal preference when it comes to listing promotions on a resume. 

Employers value clarity and context, so the best method depends on how significant the change in responsibilities was. Consider:

• If your promotion brought new challenges and accomplishments, separate entries might make the impact clearer. 
• For roles with steady growth, a single entry with multiple titles or bullet points clarifying your promotion could be more efficient. 

Choose the method that best highlights your career progression and keeps the layout of your resume readable.

How to Show Multiple Positions at the Same Company

It's possible you might have held multiple positions within the same company. This makes it even more important to clearly show how your role has evolved over time. 

Not only will it highlight your loyalty and growth within the organization but it will also demonstrate how your skills and responsibilities have expanded. 

Consider the first two methods for listing a promotion on a resume that were detailed above. These offer helpful options for showing multiple positions at the same company.

List multiple positions as separate entries

This method involves listing each position separately under the same company name in reverse-chronological order. 

Just like above, it's ideal when your roles significantly differ in responsibilities or achievements. This format gives each position the spotlight, ensuring that your progression is clear to the employer.

Example:

By listing each position in chronological order, you demonstrate a clear pattern of career advancement and how your responsibilities have grown with each role.

Group multiple positions under one heading

If your roles within the company were similar or if you want to keep your resume concise, you can group all your positions under a single company heading. It's a great way to show that you've held multiple positions within the same company while keeping your resume format streamlined.

Example:

Why Show Promotions on Your Resume?

Promotions are a clear indicator of a positive career trajectory. When you show promotions on your resume, you're letting potential employers know that you've earned recognition and trust within your previous or current roles. 

This reflects qualities like reliability, leadership, a strong work ethic, the ability to achieve results and to take on more responsibilities, which is exactly what employers want to see.

By listing promotions, you can demonstrate how your hard work led to growth, whether that means moving up the ranks or taking on complex projects. 

Promotions also tell a story of your career progression, which can help explain gaps, transitions or shifts in responsibility. Knowing how to show promotion on a resume effectively can make the difference between blending in with other candidates and standing out as someone who has proven success in their career.

Key Tips for Showing Promotions on a Resume

Consider the following tips when adding a promotion to your resume to keep it as clear as possible for the hiring manager and applicant tracking system (ATS).

Key tips for showing promotions on a resume

1. Use measurable achievements
   Include specific, quantifiable results to demonstrate how your performance contributed to the company's success. Metrics like revenue growth or efficiency improvements show why you were promoted.
2. Highlight leadership roles and new skills
   Emphasize new responsibilities or skills gained after your promotion to show professional growth. This gives employers insight into how your role evolved.
3. Maintain consistent formatting
   Ensure consistent formatting for job titles, dates and bullet points across your resume. This keeps your resume polished and easy to read.
4. Tailor the format to the role
   Choose the format that best reflects the responsibilities of each promotion — separate entries for distinct roles or a single entry for related positions. This helps showcase your advancement clearly.
5. Showcase team leadership and collaboration
   If your promotion involved managing or leading teams, highlight this to showcase your leadership capabilities. Team success is a reflection of your ability to motivate and guide others.
6. Link promotions to company goals
   Demonstrate how your promotions align with the company's broader objectives. This shows employers that you contributed to both your personal and the company's growth.

Also, avoid the following mistakes many people make when they want to show a promotion on a resume.

Common mistakes to avoid when listing promotions

1. Underplaying the promotion
   Don't hide your promotion — make it clear by listing it prominently with a summary of your achievements. Employers should instantly see your career progression.
2. Making it unclear to employers
   Ensure promotions are easy to spot by clearly separating job titles and dates. Lack of clarity can confuse employers about your advancement.
3. Not including enough details
   Avoid vague descriptions; be specific about the new responsibilities and achievements tied to your promotion. Details help emphasize your growth and accomplishments.
4. Inconsistent formatting
   Use the same formatting throughout to make your resume professional and readable. Inconsistency can distract hiring managers from your key achievements.

Promotion on Resume Examples

It is probably clear by now that knowing how to put a promotion on a resume can make a significant difference in demonstrating your career growth. 

Below are a few more examples of how to list them using the different methods discussed.

Example 1: Separate entries for each role

Example 2: Single entry with multiple titles

Example 3: Highlighting promotion in the work experience description

These examples show how to add promotion on resume examples effectively, ensuring your career progression is clear to employers while highlighting key accomplishments.

Key Takeaways

FAQ

Conor McMahon, CPRW

Career Advice Expert

Conor is a writer for Resume Now. He has over five years of professional writing experience and professional development training. Conor has written on a range of career development topics.

Read more articles by Conor McMahon, CPRW